- The Exponents
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This article is about the musical group. For the mathematical process, see exponentiation.
The Exponents
The Dance ExponentsOrigin Christchurch, New Zealand Years active 1981–2000, 2006, 2010-2012 Associated acts Jordan Luck Band
Luck
The Diamond Rings
The Starlings
Basement
Channel 4Members Jordan Luck
David Gent
Brian Jones
Michael "Harry" HarallambiPast members Steve Cowan
Martin Morris
Chris Sheehan
Steve Birss
Eddie Olson
David Barraclough
Steve SimpsonThe Exponents are a New Zealand rock group led by vocalist and songwriter Jordan Luck.[1]
Their major hits, including "Why Does Love Do This To Me", "Who Loves Who The Most", "Victoria", "I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue)" and "Whatever Happened To Tracey" have been taken up by successive generations of younger New Zealanders, with social commentators going so far as to say that an Exponents concert forms a rite of passage for New Zealand youth.
Contents
History
1980s: "The Dance Exponents"
The group formed in 1981 after vocalist Jordan Luck and guitarist Brian Jones disbanded their first group, Basement, and relocated from the South Canterbury town of Timaru to Christchurch with their ex-Splash Alley friend, Steve "Fingers" Cowan. Searching for a drummer in Christchurch, the trio met David Gent (bass) and Michael "Harry" Harallambi (drums) from punk band Channel 4. Cowan moved from bass to keyboards and guitar and the five piece became The Dance Exponents. Their first gig was at the Hillsborough Tavern on Luck's 20th birthday and Cowan's 22nd - 15 October 1981. A residency at Christchurch's Aranui Tavern quickly earned them a strong live reputation, and on the recommendation of Jim Wilson they were signed by Mushroom Records by Mike Chunn in 1982.
The band's debut single "Victoria" was a top ten hit and was the start of a remarkable run of hit songs by Luck. Steve Cowan left the group after the release of "Victoria" and was replaced by Martin Morris who only spent six months with the band and left before they began recording their debut album. Sadly Cowan passed away a couple of years later. "Airway Spies" and "All I Can Do" followed as singles two and three.
With their popularity growing nationally from extensive touring, TVNZ recorded them live at Mainstreet in Auckland. The show was simulcast on television and FM radio and the companion album released in June 1983 saw six songs from the Dance Exponents on one side of the album with four songs from The Legionnaires on the other side.
In December 1983 the group's debut album "Prayers Be Answered" was released. The album featured re-recordings of "Victoria", "Your Best Friend Loves Me Too", "Poland" and "All I Can Do" and two further singles, "Know Your Own Heart", and "I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue)". Prayers Be Answered stayed in the NZ Album chart for nearly a year, selling double platinum in the process - a rare feat for a new New Zealand act at the time . Luck's songs, their exuberant live shows and the group's broad appeal made them one of the most popular new bands in New Zealand in the early 80s.
Chris Sheehan joined the Dave Exponents on guitar in late 1983, just before the release of Prayers Be Answered. Sheehan brought a new edge to the group, best heard on his first recording with them; the Julian Mendlesohn produced single "Sex & Agriculture". In late 1984 Harry left the group and moved to Auckland where he drummed for Grey Parade. He was replaced for a short while by Christchurch drummer Steve Birss, who played only a handful of shows.
As Birss had not had time to settle with the band before they recorded their second album, Vince Ely from The Psychedelic Furs was hired by producer Ian (Fab) Taylor to drum on the album.The album was called "Expectations" and featured the singles "My Love For You", "Christchurch (In Cashel St. I Wait)" and the Australian only single "Greater Hopes. Greater Expectations" . It was released in New Zealand in May 1985, and shortly before that Eddie Olson joined the band on drums for the nationwide "Expectations" tour.
The band's third album "Amplifier" was co produced by John Jansen and Doug Rogers and released on Roger's Zulu label in 1986. Amplifier featured the single "Caroline Skies" and re-recordings of "Sex & Agriculture" and "Only I Could Die (And Love You Still)", the latter becoming the second single from the album. Without the band's approval, Zulu released a recording of "Brand New Doll" as single. It was not featured on the original Amplifier album but was included on the CD when it was released in 1999 along with a re-recording of "Victoria" made during the original album sessions. After only a moderate response to the album, Eddie Olson left the group and the band moved to Britain in 1987. There, they were a popular draw for expatriate New Zealanders (and sometimes Australians and South Africans) and attracted A&R interest, but did not gain a record contract. During their four year hiatus in the UK, Luck continued to write and accumulated a number of strong songs which were demoed by the band.
1990s: "The Exponents"
Interest in the UK demos from PolyGram Records NZ brought the band back to New Zealand in 1990, although Sheehan remained in the UK and went on to form The Starlings. In New Zealand, Harry rejoined the group and to mark the new start of the four original members, they dropped the "Dance" from their name to become The Exponents. Their subsequent 1992 album for PolyGram "Something Beginning with C", yielded the group's biggest hits of their career in "Why Does Love Do This To Me" and "Who Loves Who The Most" and the album became the band's first number 1 record in New Zealand. It includes some of Luck's strongest songs and is marked by simple arrangements and Brian Jones' vocal harmonies with Luck. Widely considered a New Zealand classic, it is included in Nick Bollinger's book "100 Essential New Zealand Albums".
In 1992 The Exponents signed to Phonogram Records in Australia and relocated to Sydney to record their fifth album "Grassy Knoll". Before they began Jones left the band and relocated to the UK. With guitars played by Dave Dobbyn and Brent Williams (an old band mate of David Gent who went on to join Pop Mechanix), "Grassy Knoll" was significantly rockier than it's predecessor and delivered the singles "Like She Said", "Don't Say Goodbye" and "House Of Love". With limited promotion in New Zealand, "Grassy Knoll" went gold but failed to match the success of "Something Beginning With C".
Following the release of Grassy Knoll, the band met Rockingham raised Dave "Duck" Barraclough in Sydney in 1994 and he joined them as guitarist and songwriting partner to Luck. His first contribution to the group was his song "La La Lulu" which was backed by a co-write with Luck called "Summer You Never Meant". "La La Lulu" returned the band to the singles charts and the two songs featured on the group's first hits compilation entitled "Once Bitten, Twice Bitten - The Singles 1981 - 1995" which was released by Warner Music. The album was a massive success hitting Number 1 on the New Zealand album charts and selling 5 x Platinum. In 1996 the group recorded a final, one off single for Warner Music entitled "Do You Feel In Love".
In 1997 the Exponents signed to Sony Music and released their sixth studio album "Better Never Than Late" which featured the singles "One In A Lifetime", "Close" and "Change Your Mind". Produced by Eddie Rayner and The Exponents it reached number 3 on the album chart.
In 1999, Dave Gent took a break from the group and Steve Simpson was drafted in on bass. Shortly after The Exponents decided to call it quits and went out on a final New Zealand tour in support of their final album "Hello, Love You, Goodbye". The record featured Simpson on bass with 6 new tracks and 8 live tracks recorded at the Pounamu Hotel in Takapuna in 1999. Following the tour Barraclough returned to Australia and joined Mental As Anything.
2000s: Reformation
Luck formed his own band, Luck, playing Exponents songs and new compositions with songwriting partner Bryan Bell and he continues to play in the Jordan Luck Band today.
Brian Jones returned to New Zealand in the early 2000s and began working with former Bird Nest Roys singer Little Ross Hollands in their new group The Diamond Rings which also included a rhythm section of fellow Exponents David Gent and Harry. The Diamond Rings released their debut album "The Rasper" in June 2009.
In 2005 the four original Exponents - Luck, Gent, Jones and Harry got together to record "Geraldine" and "Or A Girl I Knew" with producer Neil Finn for inclusion in a new Exponents hits compilation called "Sex & Agriculture - The Very Best Of The Exponents". The album featured one disc of the hits and a second of b-sides and rarities. They played a few shows in support of the album which went platinum and reached number 7 on the charts.
The four reunited again in 2010 to play at the "Band Together" benefit concert for the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. Their 1985 hit "Christchurch (In Cashel Street I Wait)" became the theme song for the concert and the band closed the show with a mass chorus of the song featuring all the artists who performed at the concert.
In October 2011, to mark the group's 30th Anniversary, The Exponents announced the November release of a new Greatest Hits package which featured 24 song's including the brand new single "It's Rugby". They also announced they would play an special anniversary show in Christchurch - back where it started 30 years earlier.[2]
New Zealand Music Awards
In 1984 The Dance Exponents won three NZ Music Awards:[3]
- Album Of The Year "Prayers Be Answered"
- Top Male Vocalist - Jordan Luck
- Best Group
In 1992 The Exponents won two NZ Music Awards:[4]
- Single Of The Year "Why Does Love Do This To Me"
- Top Male Vocalist - Jordan Luck
APRA Awards
In 2001, to celebrate 75 years of its existence, APRA invited its members and an academy to vote on what they believe are to be New Zealand's top songs of all time. The Exponents had several songs appearing in the top 100:
- #8 - "Victoria"
- #47 - "Why Does Love Do This To Me"
- #89 - "I'll Say Goodbye"
At the 2007 APRA Silver Scroll Awards on 18 September, Jordan Luck was named by Mike Chunn[5]as the first inductee to the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.[6]
Discography
Albums
Date Title Producer Label Charted Certification Catalog Number as the Dance Exponents 1983 Live At Mainstreet - Mushroom Records NZ 3 (NZ) - L38017 1983 Prayers Be Answered Dave Marett Mushroom Records NZ 4 (NZ) 2 x Platinum L38077 1985 Expectations Ian Taylor Mushroom Records NZ 7 (NZ) - RML53163 1986 Amplifier John Jansen & Doug Rogers Zulu Records 18 (NZ) - ZCD001 as the Exponents 1992 Something Beginning With C Duffy PolyGram Records NZ 1 (NZ) 3 x Platinum 512210-2 1994 Grassy Knoll David Hemming[7] Phonogram Records Aust. 9 (NZ) Gold 522913-2 1995 Once Bitten, Twice Bitten: The Singles 1981 - 1995 Various Warner Music NZ 1 (NZ) 5 x Platinum 063012558-2 1997 Better Never Than Late Eddie Rayner & The Exponents Sony Music NZ 3 (NZ) - 487708-9 1999 Hello, Love You, Goodbye Malcolm Welsford Sony Music NZ 48 (NZ) - 496324-2 2005 Sex & Agriculture: The Very Best Of The Exponents Various Universal Music NZ 7 (NZ) Platinum 9875421 2011 Why Does Love Do This To Me: The Exponents Greatest Hits Various Universal Music NZ N/A N/A Singles
Year Single Album Charted Certification Catalogue June 1982 Victoria Prayers Be Answered 6 (NZ) - Mushroom X13083 (12")
Mushroom K8793 (7")November 1982 Airway Spies 7" & 12" Single 11 (NZ) - Mushroom X13097 (12")
Mushroom K8905 (7")March 1983 All I Can Do Prayers Be Answered 23 (NZ) - Mushroom:K9044 October 1983 Know Your Own Heart Prayers Be Answered 19 (NZ) - Mushroom K9250 April 1984 I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue) Prayers Be Answered 18 (NZ) - Mushroom K9051 1984 Your Best Friend Loves Me Too Prayers Be Answered - - Mushroom K9053 August 1984 Sex and Agriculture 7" & 12" single 11 (NZ) - Mushroom X14083 (12")
Mushroom K9478 (7")April 1985 My Love For You Expectations 14 (NZ) - Mushroom K9711 1985 Christchurch (In Cashel St. I Wait) Expectations 14 (NZ) - Mushroom X14205 (12")
Mushroom K9713 (7")July 1985 Greater Hopes, Greater Expectations
Released in Australia onlyExpectations - - Mushroom K9659 August 1986 Caroline Skies Amplifier 24 (NZ) - Zulu Z001 November 1986 Only I Could Die (and Love You Still) Amplifier 35 (NZ) - Zulu Z003 1987 Brand New Doll 7" Single - - Zulu Z007 April 1991 Why Does Love Do This To Me Something Beginning With C 3(NZ) Gold Mercury 868176-2 August 1991 Who Loves Who The Most Something Beginning With C 3 (NZ) Gold Mercury 866543-2 August 1991 Whatever Happened To Tracey Something Beginning With C 6 (NZ) - Mercury 868776-2 June 1992 Sink Like a Stone Something Beginning With C 28 (NZ) - Mercury 866658-2 July 1992 The Exponents EP
Lead track - Sink Like A StoneSomething Beginning With C - - Mercury 864013-2 December 1992 Erotic EP Something Beginning With C 27 (NZ) - Mercury 864775-2 December 1993 House of Love Grassy Knoll 25 (NZ) - Mercury 858052-2 August 1994 Like She Said Grassy Knoll 25 (NZ) - Mercury 858847-2 August 1994 Don't Say Goodbye Grassy Knoll - - Mercury 856375-2 October 1995 La La Lulu/Summer You Never Meant Once Bitten, Twice Bitten 13 (NZ) - Warner 063012167-2 July 1996 Do You Feel In Love CD Single 23 (NZ) - Warner 063015229-2 April 1997 One In A Lifetime Better Never Than Late 24 (NZ) - Columbia 664262-2 August 1997 Close Better Never Than Late - - Columbia 664717-2 December 1997 Change Your Mind Better Never Than Late - - Columbia 664991-2 September 2011 It's Rugby Why Does Love Do This To Me: The Exponents Greatest Hits - - Digital Only Videos
Year Video Director 1982 Victoria Simon Morris[8] 1982 Airway Spies - 1982 All I Can Do - 1983 Know Your Own Heart - 1983 I'll Say Goodbye (Even Though I'm Blue) - 1984 Sex & Agriculture - 1985 Greater Hopes Greater Expectations Salik Silverstein 1986 Only I Could Die (And Love You Still) Salik Silverstein 1991 Why Does Love Do This To Me Kerry Brown 1991 Who Loves Who The Most Kerry Brown 1992 Whatever Happened To Tracy Kerry Brown 1992 Sink Like A Stone Kerry Brown 1993 Erotic - 1994 House Of Love - 1994 Like She Said - 1995 La La Lulu - 1996 Summer You Never Meant - 1996 Do You Feel In Love - 1997 One In A Lifetime Andrew Moore 1997 Close - 1997 Change Your Mind - 2011 It's Rugby Andrew Moore External links
Notes
- ^ Sweetman, Simon (18 February 2011). "New Zealand's best songwriter". Stuff.co.nz. http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/blog-on-the-tracks/4672532/New-Zealands-best-songwriter. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ Jones, Bridget (17 October 2011). "Thirty years of The Exponents". Stuff.co.nz. http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/5796866/Thirty-years-of-The-Exponents. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ RIANZ NZ Music Awards 1984 Winners [1], accessed 20 August 2011.
- ^ RIANZ NZ Music Awards 1992 Winners [2], accessed 20 August 2011.
- ^ APRA NZ Music Hall Of Fame: Mike Chunn's speech[3], accessed 20 August 2011.
- ^ APRA NZ Music Hall Of Fame: Inductees [4], accessed 20 August 2011.
- ^ Red Socks: About Me [5], accessed 22 August 2011.
- ^ NZ On Screen[6], accessed 23 August 2011.
Categories:- New Zealand rock music groups
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